Natural Sunscreens

22nd May 2018

( Banner: Albert Marquet – BAIGNEUSE AU PYLA)

Summer is right around the corner and I can’t wait to get tanned, eat cold watermelon and go camping! Summer is also the season where we buy our sunscreens, so I would like to talk about some eco-friendly sunscreen options for the green beauty lovers out there.

Some of you might already know that sunscreens are damaging to the coral reefs, causing coral bleaching and other bad effects, especially the use of chemical SPF’s. Click here and here to find out more about coral bleaching. Chemical sunscreens contain organic (carbon-based) compounds, such as oxybenzone, octinoxate, octisalate and avobenzone, which create a chemical reaction and work by changing UV rays into heat releasing that heat from the skin. Those compounds are particularly bad for marine life; however, the natural/physical sunscreens also have an effect on the ecosystem, just not as bad. Physical sunscreens contain active mineral ingredients, such as titanium dioxide or zinc oxide, which work by sitting on top of the skin to deflect and scatter damaging UV rays away from the skin. That’s why they are usually white and shiny!

The ideal option for our environment is to not wear SPF at all, but I realize that this may not be possible sometimes. Transitioning to natural sunscreens is definitely a good start though. I would urge you to keep out of the sun between 11am and 3pm and to wear breathable long sleeved linen shirts and trousers, hats and sunglasses, in order to minimize your SPF usage.

For face and body, I highly recommend the Madara Antioxidant Sunscreen SPF 30. It’s a super light texture with a pleasant zesty fragrance and it’s actually not too white or greasy. If you are looking for a dedicated facial SPF, I cannot recommend the De Mamiel Exhale Daily Hydrating Nectar SPF30enough. It’s light enough for acne prone skin, or people who can’t tolerate thick creams on their faces, like myself.